ActionScript 3.0 :: Integer Variable Matching Frame Numbers?

I am trying to write a short AS3 script in CS4 that allows me to step backwards and forwards through an animation. I have a stop button a play button, rewind button and a forward button. The buttons work ok apart from when I hit the rewind button sometimes it jumps to the start of the timeline rather than just step back a frame at a time. When I use the stop button and the timeline stops where it is, the rewind button steps back as required.

But, if the rewind button is clicked first it jumps to the start of the timeline, I know the theory as to why I cant get this to work. I need to know how to increment an integer variable (counter) to increment as the animation players. i.e. the counter variable to match the frame number. Below is the code I have, how to match an integer variable to the current frame and tell me where to insert the line of code on the listing.

var counter = 1;
gotoAndStop(counter);
function setupevents(){
buttonplay.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, playbutton);
buttonstop.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, stopbutton);
[Code] .....